Delphine Siino Courtin > Clifford Chance > Paris, France > Lawyer Profile

Clifford Chance‘s francophone Africa practice assists clients ranging from financial institutions to oil and gas companies and investment funds with a broad range of mandates. Renewable energy projects, major restructurings and private equity transactions stand out as areas of activity for the team. Casablanca-based partner Ouns Lemseffer has a strong track record in project financings, notably in North and West Africa. She co-leads the practice alongside the Paris-based duo of Delphine Siino Courtin and Corinne Duvnjak, who have longstanding experience of assisting with energy and infrastructure projects. Also in Casablanca, Mustapha Mourahib and Frédéric Giancarli are additional names to note.

Clifford Chance‘s project finance group is praised by clients for its ‘in-depth’ knowledge and, is well-placed to assist clients with the financing of high-profile domestic and international projects. The practice is jointly led by a group of eight practitioners, comprising Anthony Giustini, Nikolaï Eatwell, Delphine Siino Courtin, Richard Tomlinson, Milica Zatezalo-Falatar, Daniel Zerbib, David Préat, and Gauthier Martin. Corinne Duvnjak specialises in both development and finance transactions across the renewables space, while Courtin frequently advises lenders on solar projects in Chad, Burkina Faso, and Mozambique. Banking and finance expert Zerbib is well-versed in financing transactions concerning greenfield and brownfield projects, and Martin maintains a French public law focused practice, advising sponsors on biomass power plant and seaport projects.

The cross-practice team at Clifford Chance assists clients across the globe with a range of major projects, including wind projects, hydrocarbon pipeline projects and battery power projects. Work relating to clean hydrogen is a notable focus and the team assists stakeholders throughout the clean hydrogen value chain. Anthony Giustini is a key contact at the firm and has a strong focus on project development and financing transactions in the energy transition sector. David Préat is well versed in public law matters. Laurent Schoenstein excels in M&A work such as the acquisition of offshore wind parks. Finance expert Richard Tomlinson is sought out by both sponsors and lenders for assistance with transactional work in the EMEA region. Nikolaï Eatwell, Delphine Siino Courtin, Milica Zatezalo-Falatar, Daniel Zerbib, Gauthier Martin, Marianne Pezant, Emmanuel Mimin, Pierre-Benoît Pabot du Châtelard and Benjamin De Blegiers are further key members of the ‘high-calibre’ cohort.

Clifford Chance LLP primarily handles inbound transactions for a diverse client base, including commercial and development banks, private equity funds, and public institutions, as well as industrial conglomerates, energy and oil and gas companies, and construction firms. Leading the Mozambique practice are Gibbs Johnson, a Dubai-based consultant, and Russell Wells, located in London. Johnson is an expert in energy and infrastructure project finance, particularly in Mozambique’s electricity sector, while Wells spearheads the firm’s global energy and resources sector group, bringing extensive experience in commercial, corporate, and finance matters within the oil and gas and power industries. Delphine Siino Courtin, stationed in Paris, is an expert in renewable energy and infrastructure, and is adept at representing lenders in Mozambican solar projects.